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Uygur entrepreneur leads Urumqi riot donation list

By Lei Xiaoxun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-15 17:05

The first thing Aimai Yiminti, a successful Uygur businessman and a renowned philanthropist, did when he arrived in Urumqi was rush directly to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region's civil affairs bureau, where individuals can make donations for victims of the July 5 violent riot.

Aimai Yiminti

"I asked my wife to take all the money available, and to covert Hong Kong dollars into yuan, putting all together 100,000 yuan", he said with a wide smile.

Yiminti, a father of four, two of whom are adopted orphans, said he felt relieved after the deed. "I was so worried when I saw the TV coverage of the bloodshed. I love the city and I love the people, therefore I was determined to do something immediately for those who suffered," he said.

This is not the first time Yiminti, board chairman assistant with Bright Oceans Corp, has financially contributed to his mother land. In Hetian prefecture, there are primary schools named after him. And in 2008, he donated more than 1 million yuan to Wenchuan after the devastating earthquake.

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The outspoken Uygur said he was surprised by how fast the city has resumed order. "In the evening, I went out to see if everything was ok. To my surprise, I saw people strolling along the street enjoying their quality family time after supper. It's hard to believe the city had just undergone some cruelty only a few days ago," Yiminti said.

He walked for hours, feeling safe and talking to the people in the streets. Then he decided to hail a cab because he heard rumors that taxi drivers were turning down Uygur customers. "A cab stopped immediately after the driver saw me, who was a Han man," said Yiminti, who has a strong physique and is in his early 40s.

"The driver and I talked a lot en route. We had a common belief that the riot was instigated and committed by a tiny group of the dregs in our society; they represent nothing but evil and shame. Good people, no matter their ethnicity, are the majority. The evil-doers will be condemned by people and also by their own conscience," Yiminti firmly stated.

He also used his own life experience in Beijing to refute the saying that Uygur people are looked down upon and are isolated from the mainstream social life. "I did not find any inconvenience when I was in Beijing, as I spent most of my time in the company's Beijing office. I have many Han friends in Beijing, and around 300 of them attended my birthday party this year," said Yiminti who was born and raised in Kuerla, a city in southern Xinjiang.

Yiminti also acknowledged that at first he was uneasy when the riot broke out. "I was afraid that my friends and people near me would see me differently," he said. However, as the tension has eased, his friends have begun inviting him to join their outings and parties. They now talk openly with Yiminti about the incident.

In addition to his philanthropic efforts, Yiminti is also known for his stunt skills. On June 10, he broke his own record by palm-smashing 27 cobble stones in one minute. He is also capable of chewing and swallowing staple nails. Impressive video footage of his stunts has been circulating online.

Though he is a celebrity in Xinjiang both for his stunt work and charitable contributions, Yiminti remains humble. "I just want to set an example," he said simply. "I don't mind if I lead the individual donation list. I want to encourage more people to make their respective contribution. All Chinese are one big family."